Recent releases: HIV and nutrition; new global health journal; male circumcision; Chagas disease; malaria research methods

Clinical Infectious Diseases Examines Relationship Between HIV, Nutrition, Food Insecurity

"Despite calls from national and international organizations to integrate HIV and nutritional programs, data are lacking on how such programs can be effectively implemented in resource-poor settings, on the optimum content and duration of nutritional support, and on ideal target recipients," write the authors of a Clinical Infectious Diseases review that examines the relationship between HIV, nutritional deficiencies and food insecurity. "The concept of enhancing access to food among undernourished people, regardless of HIV status, is long-standing; however, critical questions remain as to the most effective ways to incorporate nutritional interventions into HIV programs," the authors conclude (Ivers et al., 10/09).

New Journal To Examine 'Health For All'

An International Health editorial, appearing in the journal's debut issue, notes that a "historic focus on pandemic disease and the differences in types of infection between countries and regions has obscured the essential similarities between peoples." The editorial outlines health topics facing people worldwide that still need to be addressed. These include: social and economic aspects of disease, evaluation of disease control programs, health systems research and policy and the management and economics of health care. "The aspiration of 'health for all' faces many challenges," according to the editorial, which writes that the new journal will focus on the "debate about how this can be achieved" (Drasar, 9/09). The first issue includes several articles dealing with global health topics.

PLoS Medicine Examines How Mathematical Models Can Inform Decision-Making About Male Circumcision Programs

"Estimating the long-term population impact and cost-effectiveness of male circumcision programmes requires mathematical modelling approaches. However, when different modelling approaches use different baseline assumptions and input variables, they sometimes produce conflicting results," write the authors of a PLoS Medicine Policy Forum. The forum reports on recent meetings where experts "assessed the potential population-level effects of male circumcision on HIV incidence predicted by these models and determined the relevance of mathematical modelling approaches to informed decision-making about the scale-up of male circumcision programmes" (Hankins et al., 9/8).

JAMA Reflects On 100 Years Since The Discovery Of Chagas Disease

In observance of the centennial anniversary of the discovery of Chagas disease, the Journal of the American Medical Association examines how scientists' understanding of the infection and parasite has evolved over time and the remaining challenges in treating the disease (Voelker, 9/9).

Malaria Journal Examines Strengths, Weaknesses Of Facility-Based Data

A Malaria Journal commentary examines the use of facility-based data in analysis. According to the article, "evaluations of malaria burden reduction using facility-based data could be very helpful, but those data should be collected, analysed, and interpreted with care, transparency, and a full recognition of their limitations" (Rowe et al., 9/3).